A man has gone on trial accused of causing the death of a popular north-east teacher, who died in a crash while returning from holiday with her husband and two children.
Yvonne Lumsden’s car crashed off the road after the collision involving Raymond Lamb’s Mitsubishi L200 truck.
Lamb, 31, is accused of driving the vehicle dangerously and at an excessive speed with a trailer that had a defective braking system.
He is also accused of driving without insurance and with faulty lamps and broken reflectors.
Lamb, of Barryfarm, Maud, denies all the charges against him.
Mrs Lumsden, 35, taught at Stuartfield School, near Old Deer, and was described at the time of her death as a “dedicated” and “cherished” teacher who was “loved by pupils”.
‘It happened so quickly. She did all she could’
Today, her 36-year-old husband Stuart gave evidence at the High Court in Aberdeen and described the moment their car collided with the trailer on A948 Auchnagatt to Ellon road, on July 12 2019.
The couple, along with their two daughters, had been returning to their home in New Deer after a trip to London.
Mrs Lumsden was driving the family’s white Volkwagen Polo, with Mr Lumsden in the passenger seat and their children, aged six and four, in booster seats in the back.
The court was told Lamb’s truck was travelling in the opposite direction to the family when the trailer swung out into their path as they approached.
An emotional Mr Lumsden told advocate depute Michelle Brannagan that his wife “did all she could” to avoid it, but it hit the front of their car.
“It happened so quick. It was five seconds maximum – not a lot of time,” he said.
Mr Lumsden also spoke of hearing a loud metallic “clatter” prior to the accident as Lamb’s vehicle took a dip in the road.
Mrs Lumsden was fatally injured as a result of the crash and died of her injuries in hospital. Mr Lumsden and one of their daughters also sustained injuries.
Court hears trailer looked ‘poorly maintained’
Mr Lumsden said after the crash Lamb “had his head in his hands as if to say ‘what have I done?'”.
Mr Lumsden said he challenged Lamb on whether the trailer had been properly attached, to which Lamb replied that it had been on “correctly”.
The widower also told the court he saw the trailer and thought it looked “poorly maintained”.
Sarah Crawford, who was one of the first members of the public on the scene, also gave evidence and spoke of the harrowing scene.
The jury also watched dashcam footage from Ms Crawford’s car that showed Lamb and witness Steven Anderson pushing the trailer out of the road.
Mr Anderson told the court that as the pair pushed it Lamb told him that he “didn’t know anything about it until he heard a bang”.
The trial, which is presided over by Judge Alistair Watson, continues.
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